Time-controlled switch mechanism



March 18 1924.

O. SCHWENGEL TIME couraommn swrrcn MECHANISM Filed July 22. 1922 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES osoaa SCHWENGEL, or PORT WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN.

TIME-CONTROLLED SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed July 22, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Oscar SoHwnNsuL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Port lVashington, in the county of Ozaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlled Switch Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The invention relates to time controlled switch mechanisms for automatically turning on and off electric lights at their predetermined time. It comprises a switch for controlling bright lights, a second switch controlling dim lights, a clock and means operable by the movement of a shaft controlled by the clock for throwing the switches on and ofif.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of means for use in hen houses or poultry yards for throwing on bright lights at the time of the evening when day light is failing, thus substantially protracting the day, and increasing the period of time throughout which the poultry scratches, this prolonging of the day increasing the laying capacity of the hens; means for throwing on a dim light during the night to enable the chickens to find their roosts, and means for again throwing on a bright light in the morning to awaken the fowls.

It is an object to provide such mechanism as will obviate all need for an attendant, the operation being entirely automatic and making for economy of labor.

A further object is the provision of adjustable means for turning on lights. The adjustment may be made by the use of a screw securing a collar to a shaft, the rotation of the collar of the shaft to a difi'erent position of adjustment operating to vary the time at which switch is actuated, the adjustment being easy to accomplish and accurate in its timing action.

Further objects are simplicity of construction and ease of manufacture. A common clock structure and switch mechanism may be utilized, substantially the only novel parts required being a shaft with a plurality of collars adjustably positioned thereon, having arms for actuating the switches.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel Serial No. 576,694.

construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

F igure 1 is a vertical section thru an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan thereof, indicated by line 11, the plane on which Figure 1 is taken.

Clock 10 may be a twenty-four hour clock or a twelve hour clock, geared in such wise as to rotate stub 11 once in every twentyfour hours. Shaft 12 has one end received in an opening in standard 13, and'is recessed at its other end for the insertion of stub 11, a transverse slot being provided for a pin 14 extending thru the stub and transmitting power therefrom to shaft 12. A pair of switches 1515 of standard construction are operable by arms 16-16" in a well known manner. Each of the arms is pivoted to a rod respectively indicated by reference characters 1717 received in openings in a wall 18. Each of the rods is urged to the left, looking at Figure 1, by helical springs 1919 contacting with collars 2020 rigid with the rods and washers 2121, contacting with wall 18. Collar 22 is secured to shaft 12 by means of screw 23, and has an integral wedge shape arm 24 projecting laterally therefrom parallel to shaft 12 extending in the direction of clock 10. On the rotation of shaft 12 wipe 24 is brought in contact with arm 16, moving the arm towards the right, looking at Figure 1. The movement of arm 16 operates to throw on the bright lights, which remain illuminated until the rotation of shaft 1.2 removes the wipe from contact with the upper end of arm 16. Spring 19 then restores the arm to extreme left hand position, which is determined by the structure of the switch and the bright lights are extinguished. By means of screw 23, wipe 24 is adjusted on shaft 12, so as to operate when the daylight is failing. The effect is substantially the same as protracting the day. The poultry is enabled to continue to scratch and thus the laying capacity of the hens is increased.

After the extinguishment of the bright lights, rotation of shaft 12 brings a wipe extending from collar 26 in contact with arm 16', thus making the dim lights effective. This nables the chickens to find their roosts. The time of operation of wipe 25 is regulable by means of screw 27. hen wipe 25 releases arm 16, the dim lights are extinguished. Rotation of shaft 12 then brings wipe 28 in contact with arm 16. By means of screw 29, wipe 28 is regulated to operate early in the morning. The throwing on of bright lights at this time awakens the fowls, and has substantially the effect of making the day longer.

Vipe 2i is wider at its point of contact with arm 16 than wipe 28. It is thus effective for a greater period of time. Because of the wedge shape of arms 24 and 28, the period of time throughout which they operate is regulable by varying the longitudinal adjustment of the wipes on shaft 12. By means of screws 23, 27 and 29, the wipes may be adjusted accurately to operate at definitely predetenninable points of time. Because of the automatic operation, need for the services of an attendant is dispensed with.

I claim:

1. The combination of a switch for controlling brightlights, a clock, a rotatable shaft, and a wipe adjustable longitudinally of said shaft, said wipe varying in width whereby the period of operation of said wipe on said switch may be aried.

2. The combination a clock driven shaft, wipes carried by said shaft and adjustably secured thereto by setscrews, and switches mounted adjacent said shaft and. having operating tumblers arranged in the paths of said wipes, each of said tumblers having a rod pivoted thereto at one end and slidably supported at its other end. and a spring surrounding said rod and bearing against a fixed support at one end and se cured to said rod at its other end and urging said tumblers to switch open position.

The combination of clock work having a driving shaft a second shaft secured thereto and extending beyond said clock work, wipes adjustably mounted upon said second shaft, switches arranged adjacent said shaft and having tumblers positioned in the path of said wipes, and resilient means urging said tumblers in a direction opposite that given them by said wipes.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Port \Vashington, in the county of Ozaukee and State of Wisconsin.

OSCAR SCHVENGEL. 

